How long can you let your car idle?

Idling your car for 30 seconds to a minute is acceptable, and it will not cause any harm to your vehicle. With advanced technology, even if you let your car idle for a slight longer duration, it will not damage it.
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Can you leave your car idling for a long time?

Your engine may also overheat if you leave your car idling for too long. However, this particular error often occurs because of mechanical malfunctions. If your engine overheats, get your cooling system or fan belt checked by a certified mechanic. Your car may run out of gas.
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How long can you leave your car running while parked?

On average, car ideal longer than 5 minutes will cause the engine to go over normal temperature. Many states limit ideal time to 20 minutes during cold temperatures. If you must ideal try to drive the car around the block after every 5 mins.
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How long can a car idle before damage?

Experts maintain that your car should never idle for more than thirty seconds to one minute. However, the reasons behind that advice pertain to conserving fuel and limiting the amount of exhaust. A car's engine can idle indefinitely outdoors without any safety concerns.
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What happens if you leave your car running for 8 hours?

J.R. Ray: Well, to answer your first question, leaving the car running all day won't do any damage. As long as the engine's cooling system is working normally, a modern car can run for days and days -- until it runs out of gas -- without causing itself any harm.
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Should You Leave Your Car's Engine Idling? Myth Busted



Is it OK to sleep in car while running?

No, it's not safe to sleep in your car with the engine running. Leaving your car engine turned on while sleeping could lead to dangerous exhaust fumes containing carbon monoxide entering the vehicle.
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Why is idling your car bad?

An idling car wastes gas and burns oil, which is bad for the environment. Running the car for two minutes burns the same amount of gas as driving for a mile. Running the car for more than an hour burns up almost a gallon of gas, WBTV reports. Burning more oil means more frequent oil changes.
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What is excessive idling?

Excess idling is defined as maintaining a stopped vehicle with the engine running for five (5) minutes or longer. 1.3. Facts 1.3. 1. Idling for more than just 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
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Is idling car with AC bad?

To answer your question having the AC ON while idling will hurt the engine if the engine can't maintain a recommended operating temperature, no cold weather can stop an engine from overheating without a radiator system.
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Can I sleep in my car with the windows closed?

Sleeping in your car with the windows closed is generally safe, though external factors can make it hazardous. Vehicles aren't airtight, and a mid-size car holds 3,000-4,000 liters of air, so oxygen deprivation is not a concern. What will affect your safety is having the engine on and the location of the vehicle.
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Can I sleep in a car with windows rolled up?

Sleeping in a car with the windows rolled up is perfectly safe. Despite popular belief, vehicles are not airtight and the air within a vehicle is replaced on average every 1 to 3 hours with no mechanical ventilation. You wont have to worry about running out of fresh oxygen by sleeping with your windows up.
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Why can't you sleep in your car?

No, under federal law, it is not illegal to sleep in your car unless you are trespassing, intoxicated (including engine off), or falling asleep whilst driving. That being said, some cities have local ordinances that do make it a crime. Some states also prohibit overnight stays at rest stops, to control loitering.
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Is it illegal to drive without a shirt?

Driving with Flip-Flops or Shirtless, Illegal or not ? DGT (Traffic Deparment) posted a document showing that as a general rule, is NOT illegal to drive with flip flops and without T-shirt.
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Is it legal to live in your car?

Rather, it's the fact that your car is in one spot for at least as long as you're sleeping in it. Parking your car on someone's private property can get you arrested for trespassing, unless you have the owner's consent. And if you do, you might as well as to just crash on a couch.
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Where is the safest place to sleep in your car?

Rest stops are one of the safest places to spend a night in a car legally if your state allows it.
...
Here are seven safe places to sleep in your car:
  • Walmart.
  • Casino's.
  • Rest Stops.
  • Welcome Information Centers.
  • Bureau of Land Management's Land.
  • Shopping Malls' and Grocery Stores' Parking Lots.
  • City Street Parking.
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Is sleeping in a car warmer than a tent?

Tents are smaller in volume which means they can get warmer faster plus they have double the insulation. They also happen to be made of specific fabrics that keep it from getting as cold as the aluminum your car is made from. In short, it's warmer to sleep in a tent.
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Can you asphyxiate in a car?

You cannot suffocate in a car because the car is not airtight. Even with the windows up, your car may get humid, stuffy, or uncomfortable if you're sleeping. But the chances of you suffocating are zero. The same goes for your trunk.
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How can I safely sleep in my car?

Tips for Sleeping in the Car: Safety & Comfort First
  1. Stay Upright With Your Seatbelt On. ...
  2. Wear Comfortable Clothes. ...
  3. Put on a Sleep Mask. ...
  4. Use a Sunshade. ...
  5. Try a Neck Pillow. ...
  6. Listen to Music or White Noise. ...
  7. Snuggle Up With a Blanket. ...
  8. Rest on a Comfy Pillow.
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Does accelerating slowly save gas?

By accelerating hard, you're burning much more gas than you would by gently gaining speed. And you get to waste even more while idling at the next stoplight until the slow-accelerating driver arrives.
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What wastes the most gas in a car?

Driving too fast.

Most American cars operate at peak efficiency—generating the most forward momentum with the least amount of fuel—between 50 and 60 miles per hour.
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What speed is most fuel-efficient?

The Energy Saving Trust says that the most efficient speed you can travel in a car in terms of achieving the best fuel economy is 55-65mph. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly. For example, driving at 85mph uses 40% more fuel than at 70mph (oh, and it's illegal too).
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Do you burn more gas with the AC on?

You might be curious about why your car uses extra fuel when the AC is on. This happens because energy is diverted from the engine to the air conditioner when it's running. This leads to more fuel usage overall. Your car has to get the energy needed to keep your AC running from somewhere.
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Where can I sleep for free?

Top 5 Best Websites That Let You Stay for Free
  • Couchsurfing. The most popular site for free stay is Couchsurfing. ...
  • BeWelcome. A nonprofit with more than 70k members, BeWelcome aims at connecting you with a local to show you their city, no matter where you go. ...
  • Trust Roots. ...
  • MotoStays. ...
  • Horizon. ...
  • 10 Comments.
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How long does it take to get carbon monoxide poisoning from a car?

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control found that CO concentrations reach the Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) concentration of 1,200 parts per million (ppm) in only 7 minutes when a small 5 horsepower gasoline engine is run in a 10,000 cubic foot room.
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Can we sleep in car with AC?

Research has revealed sleeping in the car with the AC on can be dangerous and even life threatening due to carbon monoxide poisoning. One can die of suffocation as the same air is recycled within the car. Moreover the exhaust fumes from your own car can enter the car and suffocate you.
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